Tag: Chiricahua Mountains

Paradise Arizona

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Paradise, Arizona, is a small ghost town located in the Chiricahua Mountains of Cochise County, southeastern Arizona, within what is now the Coronado National Forest. It represents a classic example of a short-lived mining boomtown from the early 20th century in the American Southwest.

Founding

The town of Paradise was settled in 1901 during the Arizona Territory era (prior to Arizona’s statehood in 1912). It originated as a mining camp following the discovery of a rich vein of copper ore in the Chiricahua Mountains. The Chiricahua Development Company established operations there around 1903, which spurred the town’s growth. Some accounts credit “Grandpa” George A. Walker (or a similar figure) with naming the town, possibly inspired by the area’s abundant shade from trees along East Turkey Creek and its water sources, making it a “paradise” in the rugged landscape. The town was located near the earlier ghost town of Galeyville (an 1880s silver mining and outlaw hub associated with figures like Curly Bill Brocius), about three miles north.

Paradise briefly boomed as a frontier settlement, attracting miners and supporting businesses. At its peak around 1907, it featured a lively, rowdy atmosphere typical of mining camps.

Buildings and Structures

Little physical evidence remains today, as many structures were dismantled for lumber when the town declined, and residents often lived in tents or temporary buildings. Historical accounts mention:

  • General stores — Including a large one built by Henry S. Chamberlain and Tom Hawkins, stocked with groceries, hay, grain, and mining supplies.
  • Hotel
  • Jail
  • Saloons — Reports claim up to 13 saloons at one time, reflecting the rough mining culture.
  • Other businesses — Such as mining-related facilities tied to the Chiricahua Development Company operations.

A few historic structures persist in a limited way. The George Walker House (built around 1902) is a notable surviving building, now used as a bed-and-breakfast or rental in the area, offering views of local wildlife and history. The town also has a small cemetery nearby.

Famous Citizens

Paradise was a small mining community without widely documented “famous” residents on a national scale. Key figures include:

  • George A. Walker (often called “Grandpa” Walker) — Credited with naming the town and an early prominent resident; his historic house remains a landmark.
  • Local miners, store owners, and operators associated with the Chiricahua Development Company.

No major outlaws or celebrities are directly tied to Paradise itself (unlike nearby Galeyville), though the region’s Wild West history includes connections to figures from the broader Cochise County area.

Post Office

The Paradise Post Office opened on October 23, 1901, shortly after settlement, reflecting the town’s early establishment and need for official services. It served the mining community during its boom years.

The post office closed on September 30, 1943, marking the effective end of the town as a functioning settlement. By then, the population had dwindled significantly due to the mine closures decades earlier.

Newspapers

No dedicated newspaper is recorded for Paradise itself in historical sources. Small mining camps like this often relied on regional publications from nearby towns (such as those in Cochise County or Tombstone-area papers) for news. The town’s short boom and remote location likely prevented the establishment of a local press.

Decline and Legacy

The town’s prosperity ended abruptly with the Panic of 1907, when copper prices plummeted from 25 cents to 9 cents per pound. The Chiricahua Development Company shut down operations and left, causing businesses to close and miners to depart. The town never recovered, becoming essentially abandoned by the 1940s, though a handful of residents remained in later years.

Today, Paradise is a quiet ghost town with scattered ruins and a few modern residents or visitors drawn to the area’s natural beauty, birdwatching (in nearby Cave Creek Canyon), and hiking in the Chiricahua Mountains. It stands as a reminder of Arizona’s mining history and the fleeting nature of boomtowns in the early 20th century.

(Note: This report focuses on the historic ghost town of Paradise in Cochise County, distinct from the modern affluent town of Paradise Valley near Phoenix in Maricopa County, which has a separate history tied to post-WWII residential development.)

Galeyville Arizona

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Galeyville, Arizona, was a short-lived silver mining boomtown in the Chiricahua Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona, during the early 1880s. It exemplifies the rapid rise and fall characteristic of many frontier mining camps in the American West, fueled by mineral discoveries, speculation, and the lawless reputation of the surrounding region.

Founding and Boom Period

John H. Galey (February 4, 1840 – April 12, 1918)
John H. Galey (February 4, 1840 – April 12, 1918)

The town originated in late 1880 following the discovery of promising silver-lead ore deposits in the area. John H. Galey (sometimes referred to as John Galey), a prospector and oil man originally from Pennsylvania (with some sources noting Texas connections), located rich silver veins and gave the settlement its name. The community quickly took shape as miners, merchants, and opportunists rushed in.

By early 1881, Galeyville had grown into a functional mining camp. A post office opened on January 6, 1881, reflecting its brief official recognition. The town featured typical boomtown amenities, including saloons, a general store, boarding houses, and other businesses supporting the miners. A smelter was constructed to process ore from local mines, such as the Texas Mine, highlighting the focus on silver-lead extraction.

At its peak in 1881–1882, Galeyville attracted several hundred residents (exact population figures are not well-documented but typical of small camps numbering in the low hundreds). It benefited from the broader mining excitement in southeastern Arizona following discoveries like those at Tombstone (founded around 1879).

Reputation and Outlaw Association

Galeyville earned notoriety as a supposed haven for outlaws and rough characters during Arizona Territory’s turbulent years. Located in a remote area near the San Simon Valley, it was reportedly used as a base or hangout by members of the loosely affiliated group known as the “Cowboys,” including infamous figures like Curly Bill Brocius and possibly Johnny Ringo. Legends portrayed it as a rough-and-tumble place filled with gamblers, rustlers, and gunmen who lived on the edge of the law.

While popular accounts (including later books and articles) amplified these tales—sometimes describing it as the “outlaw king” Curly Bill’s headquarters—more scholarly examinations, such as Brooks White’s book Galeyville, Arizona Territory 1880: Its History and Historic Archaeology, separate myth from evidence. Archaeological and historical records confirm mining activity and some outlaw presence, but the town’s outlaw reputation may have been exaggerated over time, influenced by its proximity to Tombstone’s famous events (e.g., the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in 1881).

Decline and Abandonment

The boom proved fleeting. The ore deposits were not as extensive or rich as initially hoped, mining operations quickly became unprofitable, and excitement faded. The post office closed on May 31, 1882, after just over a year of operation—a clear sign of decline. By late 1882, most residents had departed, and the town was largely abandoned, with structures left to deteriorate. The smelter equipment was eventually relocated to Benson, Arizona.

Galeyville’s rapid collapse mirrored other Arizona mining camps dependent on narrow, high-grade veins that depleted fast without sustained development.

Legacy

Today, Galeyville is a classic ghost town with little visible remaining—no standing buildings, only scattered foundations, mine tailings, and archaeological traces in the Chiricahua Mountains. Its elevation is approximately 5,732 feet (1,747 m). The site is remote and accessible mainly by dirt roads, attracting historians, off-road enthusiasts, and those interested in Old West lore.

Galeyville’s brief existence (roughly 1880–1882) captures the transient nature of frontier mining: optimism sparked by discovery, a burst of activity, and swift abandonment when the riches proved illusory. Its association with outlaws like Curly Bill adds enduring appeal in Western history, though the reality was primarily that of a typical, short-lived silver camp in a lawless borderland.

John Peters “Johnny” Ringo

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Johnny Ringo was an American gunfighter and outlaw most commonly associated with the infamous happenings in Tombstone, Arizona. He was often portrayed as the hired gun of the Clanton faction, an antagonist to Doc Holiday, and could be responsible for the kill of Morgan Earp. Although not formally educated, he supposedly quoted Shakespeare and cultivate an image of the refined gunman. Although in Tombstone at the time, and quarreled with Doc Holiday, he did not participate in the gunfight or every mince more than words with Holiday.

John Peters "Johnny" Ringo ( May 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882 )
John Peters “Johnny” Ringo ( May 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882 )

John Peters “Johnny” Ringo is born May 3, 1850 to Martin and Mary Peters Ringo in Greens Fork, Indiana. On July 30, 1864, when Johnny was 14, his family was relocation from Wyoming to California. While en route, Martin Ringo, Johnny’s father was killed when he stepped off their wagon holding a shotgun, which accidentally discharged. The head wound was gruesome and the family if forced to bury him on a hillside next to the trail. On their arrival in California, the family settled in San Jose.

Mason County War

In 1869, Johnny aged 19, left San Jose and moved to Mason County, Texas. While in Texas be befriended a former Texas Ranger Scott Cooley, who was the adoptive son of Rancher Tim Williamson. Williamson is arrested by a hostile mob and killed by Peter “Bad Man” Bader on May 13th, 1875. Following, Ringo and Colley rage a war of terror of those they felt guilty to Williamson’s murder. This became locally know as the “Hoodoo War” or the “Mason County Ware”.

On August 19th, 1875, Scott Cooley and Ringo killed Charley Bader when they mistook him for his brother Pete. The two men are jailed for the murder in Burnet, Texas, but soon escaped.

The Mason County War is over in November 1876 with about a dozen lives lost.

Ringo in Tombstone

Johnny found his way to Tombstone in the winter of 1880. He had a reputation of a bad temper and an alcoholic. He becomes associated with the Cochise County Cowboys alongs with the Clanton’s and may have participated in some of their “activities”. Ringo did not participate in the famous gunfight, however, on January 17th, 1882, he and Doc Holiday traded words and almost had a gunfight before both men were arrested.

Ringo was a fine man any way you look at him. Physically, intellectually, morally. He was six feet tall, rather slim in build, although broad-shouldered, medium fair as to complexion with gray-blue eyes and light brown hair. His face was somewhat long. He was what might be called an attractive man. His attitude toward all women was gentlemanly. He must have been a gentleman born. Sometimes I noticed something wistful about him, as if his thoughts were far away on something sad. He would say, ‘Oh, well,’ and sigh. Then he would smile, but his smiles were always sad. There was something in his life that only he, himself, knew about …. He was always neat, clean, well dressed, showed that he took good care of himself. He never boasted of his deeds, good or bad, a trait I have always liked in men. John…was a loyal friend. And he was noble, for he never fought anyone except face to face. Every time I think of him, my eyes fill with tears.

Mary Katherine Horony Cummings – Big Nose Kate

Following the attacks on Virgil and Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp blamed Ringo for the ambush and murder of Morgan on March 18th, 1882. Morgans death prompted a “vendetta” ride which sees Wyatt hunting those whom he blamed for Morgan’s death. March 20th, 1882, Wyatt killed Frank Stillwell in Tucson, Arizona. Following, Johnny Ringo is deputized into a possse to search for the Wyatt and Holiday, although they never find them.

Mysterious Death

During Tombstone’s Fourth of July festivities, Ringo drank heavily. Two days letter he left Tombstone with several bottles of liquor. On July 8th, Deputy Billy Breakenridge ran into Ringo at Dial’s Ranch in the South Pass of the Dragoon Mountains. During this encounter “Ringo was very drunk, reeling in the saddle.” He encouraged Ringo to follow him back to the Goodrich Ranch. But, “he was drunk and stubborn and went on his way. I think this was the last time he was seen alive.”

At about 3pm on July 13, ranch hands at a nearby ranch heard a shot.

On July 14th, 1882, Ringo’s lifeless body is discovered by Teamster James Yoast, Ringo is found dead among “a bunch of five large black jack oaks growing up in a semicircle from one root, and in the center of them was a large flat rock which made a comfortable seat.” 

On discovery, Ringos body is already blacked from the hot Arizona sun.

His feet were wrapped in strips of cloth torn from his undershirt. Ringo had lost his horse with his boots tied to the saddle. The coroner’s report noted that “He had evidently traveled but a short distance in this foot gear.” A bullet hole is found at his right temple and an exit wound at the back of his head. The fatal wound was upward at a 45-degree angle between the right eye and ear. His Colt Single Action Army .45 revolver was still in his right hand with the hammer rested on the empty chamber. A knife cut was found at the base of his scalp, as if “someone had cut it with a knife.” His horse was found eleven days later about 2 miles away with Ringo’s boots still tied to the saddle. 

Despite the later claims by Wyatt Earp to have killed him, or movie depictions of Doc Holiday dispatching him and a show down, it is not difficult to image a very drunk Johnny Ringo committing suicide, after falling off and loosing his horse.

Summary

NameJohn Peters Ringo
Also Know ASJohnny Ringo, Johnny Ringgold
Birth / DeathMay 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882
Cause of DeathSuicide, Cochise County, Ariona
Side armColt Single Action Army .45 revolver
VictimsJames Cheyney – Killed – September 25, 1875 – Mason County, Texas
Charley Bader – Killed – August 19th, 1875 – Mason County, Texas
Louis Hancock – Wounded – December 1879 – Safford Arizona

References